Insulating inclosure



Sepi- 6 1927 A. c. GAYNOR INSULATING INCLOSURE Filed April 23, l924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 6,1927. 1,641,265

A. c. GAYNOR INSULATING INCLOSURE Filed April 23, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 [1V V// TO lx ARTHUR C. GAYNOR maw W.. A7" Olefvffy Patented Sept. 6, 1927.

UNITED STATES .ARTHUR C. GAYNOR, OF STRATFORD, CONNECTICUT.

INSULATING INCLOSURE.

Application led April 23, 1924. Serial No. 708,391.

' This invention relates to an insulating receptacle or inclosure, more particularly of the type use d in housing switches, connecting sockets for plugs and other electric apparatus ot' similar nature.

Inclosures or housings of this character have heretofore been made by molding a plastic insulating material to the required shape, the inclosure being thus formed of a single integral mass of insulating material. This has imposed, limitations on the housing or inclosures, oneE of these limitations being that the number of materials suitable for molding is limited, porcelain or asbestos compositions being usually used forl this purpose, and the range of selectionv ofdielectric strengths and other properties of the inclosing walls is accordingly restricted. It lis moreover. diiicult, and in many instances impossible, to make containers of the accuracy and-uniformity of dimensions desired Jfor many purposes owing to the tendency ,for the Walls to warp 0r sag out of shape during the baking or other hardening or setting operations. This hinders the mounting of the apparatus directly on the surface of the molded walls or surfaces where such apparatusmust. be accurately positioned.

. These various deficiencies are obviated by my present invention. one object of which is to provide a receptacle or inclosure construction that may be built without molding.

Another object of the invention is to provide an inclosure construction that will permit the usein 'its construction of insulating `material of a Wide range of dielectric strengths or other properties.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a receptacle or inclosure construction permitting the use of materials thatA may be accurately machined 0r stamped and fitted togetherv so that mechanism or apparatus requiring accurate placement may be mounted directly on the wall or surface of the inclosure, and also provide a construction that permits separate plates of insulating material forming the container to be joined together without lthe necessity of cementing or riveting or similarly securing them t0 each other.

'her. a switch or separate connector device of the present type is used with ,alternating currents taken from a. hightension line through a step down transformer, a dangerous situation may arise in case of a breakdown of the transformer throwing the full high tension voltage on the apparatus, in close proximity to parts touched in using the apparatus. rThe present invention also provides a shield for the operator by which currents under dangerous voltages will be grounded before they can reach the operator.

With these and other objects in view, the invention com rises, the devices and apparatus describe and set forth in the following specification and claims.

,Thevarious features of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which.

Two of the various modifications in which the various features of the present invention may be embodied are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which;

Fig. l is a plan View of a` contact receptaclel embodying one form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side View ot' the receptacle shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal, sectional elevation of the receptacle taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

F ig. 4 is a cross sectional view of the receptacle taken on line 4-4 of Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of the various elements forming the cover of the receptacle, the various parts being shown in disassembled spaced position in their relation to each other.

Fig. 6 is a view of the plates and cover elements of the inclosure shown dis-assembled and spaced but in the relative positions to each other which they occupy when assembled.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a switch embodying another form of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a side View of the switch shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 isa longitudinal sectional view of the switch taken on line 9 9 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional View of the .switch taken on line lO--lO of Fig. 7.

Fig. 1-1 is a cross sectional view of the switch taken on line 11-l1 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12is a view of the various wall and cover elements of the switch inclosure shown in dis-assembled, spaced positions in the relative positions occupied when assembled.

Fg.,13 is a sectional plan View of the receptacle taken on line 16-16 of Fig. 2.

,In my present invention the walls of the container or inclosure are formed of plates of any desired insulating material cut or stamped to the required shapes and fitted fil'l other, so that apparatus may be accurately and uniformly positioned by, mounting directly on these walls. The metal frame may be grounded when the receptacle is installed and is connected to a metallic plate, backing o1' inserted in the insulating material of the cover and is provided with openings slightl larger than those of the cover through whic access is given to the interior of the inclosure. The edges of the openings in the insulating cover material therefore slightly overlap those of the metal shield or plate so that any operating element extending through these openings is slightly spaced from the edges of the shield, thus providing a short air gap lsufficient to insulate against ordinary voltages but across which dangerous yvoltages would jump to ground.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings, in Figs. 1 to 6 the`invention is shown as applied toa receptacle adapted to receive and make electric contact with blades yof a connector plug inserted thereinto, a receptacle capable of taking two plugs at a time and of receiving blades arranged in either parallel or tandem .positions being shown by way of example. This receptacle comprises a box member 14, din which are mounted suitable contact terminals 16, and a coverrmember 18 having openings 20 through which the blades of the connector plug may be inserted.

The plates of which the insulating inclosure of the box 14 is constructed are supported in a metallic frame 22 stamped from a single piece of metal to form a b'ottpm portion 24 and end portions 26 and 28. A plate of insulating material 30 of a size to fit and cover the bottom plate 24 is re tained thereon by means of flanges 32 projecting upwardly from each sidevof the'bottom of the frame. .The side edges of the bot tom portion 24 of the frame are cut or notched inwardly at 36 and 38 at their middle portions and the edges of the plate 30 are similarly notched at 40 and 42 to receive downwardly depending lugs 44 and 46 of side plates 48 and 50, the end portions of the lower edges of the side plates resting on the faces of the end portions of the bottom plate 30 left fromthe formation of said notches or cut-away portions. The end edges 'ofthe side plates 48 and 50 are held within the frame by means of flanges 52 and 54 on the end portions 26 and 28 of the frame. The upper edges of the side plates 48 and 50 are notched as at 56 and 58 to receive therein the upper portions of end plates and 62. The lower portions of the side edges of the end plates 60 and 62 are notched at 64 and 66 so that they may fit againstI and abut the inner faces of the side plates 48 and 50.

The side plates 48 and 50 are thus accurately positioned lengthwise on the frame by the fitting of the lugs 44 and 46 in the notchesl36 and 38 and by abutting the side portions 26 and 28 of thc frame and is retained against sidewise displacement by being retained between the anges 52 and 54 and the edges of the notches 64 and 66 of the end plates as well as by the lugs 44 and 46. The end plates 60 and 62 are retained in position between the end portions 26 and 28 and the edges of the notches 56 and 58 and against sidewise displacement by the flanges 52 and 54 and the notches G4 and 66.

As the various insulating plates'may be made from sheets or plates by stamping or lcutting and as there is a wide variety of materials that can readily be subjected to such operations, the insulating plates may be made of material of high dielectric strength, wherehigh voltages are concerned or of cheaper materials of lower dielectric strengths or having other desired properties, when conditions may make this desirable. As the various walls of insulating material are stamped to-fit and are spaced from each other as accurately as is the case with metal stampings and accordingly contact elements may be mounted directly on the walls with suicientlyexact placement for ordinary purposes without the necessity of embedding the elements in a cementing or plastic vmaterial. In the above instance, this may be done by stamping a hole 68 in the side walls 48 or 5() and attaching the contact clements 16 to the inner faces of the walls by means of a rivet 70 extending through this hole. The rivet may form part of a binding screw or connecting element i' or the contact terminals in the box.

The cover member 18 closing .the box 14 comprises a plate or frame 72 forming a shield of metal attached to the metal frame 22 by means of lugs 74 andv 76 projecting upwardly from the ends 26 and 28 of the frame through openings 78 and 80 in thc plate 72, thus serving to hold the insulating walls in the frame. An inner lining plate 82 of insulating material is provided immediately beneath the metal plate 72 and is encircled and retained in position by means of a flange 84 depending downwardly from the edge of the plate 72. The liningV plate 824 covers the interior of the box 14, and overlaps the upper edges of the side and end walls and is provided with openings 86 into which lugs 88 may project from the upper edges of the. side walls 48 and 50.

The upper face of the plate 72 is also covered at the places where the plugs are placed by means of a pair of insulating plates 90 and 92. The plates 90 and 92 and the lining plate 82 are vsecured to the opposite faces of the metal plate. 72 by means of metal pins or rivets 94 passing through holes 96 in the plate-72 of such a size that its edges are spaced from the pins, so thatthese pins, which reach the inner surface of the cover are not in contact with the grounded metal plate 72 but are very slightly spaced' therefrom.

To provide the. openings 20, the plates 82, 72, and 96 and 92 are provided with superposed or overlying openings 98, 100 and 102, respectively, these openings being so positioned that they overlie the blade receiving portions of their respective contact terminal 16. The openings 98 and 102 of the plates 82 and the plates 90 and 92' are of the same size and are superposed on each other so that their edges are in alignment and they are of such a size and shape as to closely receive and guide contact blades inserted therethrough. The openings 100 are slightly larger so that their edges are spaced from and overlapped by the edges of the openings 98 and 102 of the adjacent insulating plates. the edge ofthe openingV 100 to the openings 20 is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. Accordingly a contact blade inserted through the openings, though it may touch an edge of the openings 98 and 102 of the insulating plates is slightly spaced from the edges of the grounded metal plate 72. This space is sufficient to insulate the blades against normal voltages but provides an are or spark gap through which abnormal voltages will cause current to pass to the ground ratherthan to the hand'of a person insert-- ing the blades. The rivets 94 havea similar relation-to the openings 96.

The plate 72 projects beyond the ends of. the box and the projecting ends are provide'd with openings 104 through which the box maybe mounted on a suitable support and grounded. For the mounting of covers or other devices the plate may be provided with a hole 106 between the platesr90 and 92' which may be pressed in such a manner as to give a countersunk formation and to cause the metal to tlow and thicken about the edge of the opening to provide suiii cient foundation for screwthreads 108.

The form of the inclosure shown in Figs. 7 to 12 is adapted to inclose and support a switch mechanism. In this forml of embodiment, a somewhat different supporting frame 110 is used, the frame having avbottom wall 112, end walls 114 and 116 and a The relation ot side wall 118. One side wall of the insulating inclosure is formed by a flat plate 120 of insulating material fitting the side wall 118 ot' the metal frame and extending from the bottom wall 112 to the upper edge of the side wall. The end walls` of the insulating inclosure are formed of a pair of plates 122 and 124 fitting the inner faces of the end walls 114 and 116 of the metal supporting frame and extending from the bottom Wall 112 to the upper edge of the end walls 114 and 116, the end walls 114 and 116 and the plates 122 and 124 projecting beyond the edge of the bottom Wall 112 of the frame. The bottom wall of the insulating inclosure is formed by a plate 126 lying on the bottom 112 of the metal trame and abut-ting, on. three of its edges, the lower portion of the inner faces of the end and side plates 122', 120 and 124. The fourth edge of the plate 126 is spaced inwardly slightly from the outer edge of the bottom plate 112 of the metal securing frame leav- `ing room between this edge and the edge of the bottom plate 112 to receive the lower end of an outer side plate.

The end plates 122 and 124 are provided at their upper edges with spaced. downwardly extending, notches 128 and 130 in which are received lugs or extensions 132 and 134 projecting from the upper end portions of plates 136 and 138, one plate. 136, forming an outer wall of the inclosure while the other, 138, forms an inner partition, serving, in the present instance. for securing and holding the switch elements in their proper positions relative to each other and to the inelosure. outer plate 136 extends to the bottom wall 112 and is secured between `the outer edge of the bottom insulating plate 126 and a lug 140 turned upwardly from the outer edge of the bottom wall 112. The inner spaced plate 138 is locked in position by means ot downwardly extending lug 142 projecting into an opening 144 in the plate 126 spaced the required distance from the edge of the plate, both of the plates 136 and 138 being thus secured at their upper corners and at their' lower edges.

As the various members making up the inclosure are stamped, they may be accurately fitted together and the switch elements may be similarly t-ted to the walls and secured in their proper places without being set in cement or a p`astic material or being riveted or similarly held in position. Thusa frame 146 on which the swinging or moving elements of the switch are mounted may be so stamped as t0 fit in the inclosure formed-by the walls 138, 120 and the bottom Vwall 126, the frame fitting snugly against these walls. The frame 146 may be anchored in position between these walls by means of a lug 148 projecting from the side rlhe lower end of the llO next to the plate 138 into a suitably positioned hole 0r slot 150 provided in the plate 138. The lug 148 may be inserted into the slot 150 when the plates are being assembled and as the'side plate 12() and bottom lplate, 126 are pnt in place and the assembled walls inserted in the supporting frame the frame and lug will beheld by the abutting plates. to secure a pair of contact terminals 152 and 154 in proper spaced positions to bev contacted by the moving contact element held in the frame 146. For this purpose the contact elements have portions extending between the walls 136 and 138 and closely contact with them so that they are supported against turning or twisting in one direction while the walls are provided with notches such as 156 through which the elements extend\to the eitterior and the interior of the inclosure` the terminals being held in these notches tightly against the inner surfaces of the walls 1144 and 116 so that they are rigidly held in position without requiring further securing means. The portions' extending to the interior of the inclosure are bent to bring their ends into position to be contacted bythe moving elements of the switch. The bottom wall 112 and the bottom plate 126 are narrower than the end and cover members. and the end and cover members project beyond the outer side plate 136 so that a partly inclosed space is provided outside of the inclosure in which .the binding of the contact. terminals to the line wires may be conveniently accomplished' and the line wires lead inwardly.

The nclosure is completed and closed by means of a cover plate 158 of insulating material having a slot or elongated opening 160 through which may project the end of ,a handle or lever 162 of insulating material for operating the switch elements. The cover p'ate 158 is mounted on the inclosure by means of a metal plate 164 having ,flanges 166 projecting downwardly about the edges of the plate to hold it in position, and having an opening 168 overlying the opening 160 ot' the plate 158 to permit the projection of the handle 162 therethrough. The plate 164 is secured to the metal frame by means of lugs 170 and 172 projecting upwardly from the upper edges of the end walls 114 and 116 through openings 174and 176, the plate 164 being extended beyond the walls 114 and 116 to provide these openings and to provide lng portions 178 and 180 having openings 182 and 184 by which the inclosure may be securedto any desired support and through which the inclosing metal frame and the cover plate 164 may be grounded. When so grounded all possibility of a current creeping past the cover is obviated.

One of the terminals is formed of a strip The plates 136 and- 138 servev ridges having sloping faces 228, 230 and 232 and 234 respectively. The strips 214 and 216 are longitudinally opposite each other `to such an extent that a pair of contact yblades or jacks, arranged in parallel` may be inserted to Contact with the angular or sloping faces I220 and 228 at one end of the strips or with thelfaces 226 and 232 at the other end. With the .strips in this spacial arrangement, if the 4contact blades are arranged in parallel, they wi l contact with the faces 222 and 230l of the strips at one end. or with the faces 224 and 2234 at the other end of the strips. `To en- ,able the contact -blades' or jacks to be held tightly 0r closely againstI the sloping faces 222, 226. 228 and 234. the ends of the strip are continued beyond these sloping faces for a short distance. and then bent cylindrically as at 244, to bring the end of the strip to within a short distance of the respective sloping or angularly disposed faces 222, 226, 228 or 234, At0 tightly or closely receive the blade 236 or 238 therein in order to ensure a close contact with the opposite face of the strip. To provide a similar inclosing means for the other sloping faces of the strip. a cuty 246 is made at right angles to the outer edge of the strip and then continued parallel to the 'edge of the strip at 248 to form a leaf 250 which is then bent to within a short distance of the opposite face 220, 224. 23() or 232 respectively. The outer edges of the strip at the contact portions are flare outwardly to enable the contact blades to be more easily inserted.

Thecontact blade. when inserted in pard llo allel 0r tandem position at either end of the contact strip. will lie in either one of a'pair of planes that intersect each other at an angle.

It will be. understood that the openings 20 inthe plate 18, overlie the spaces between the'angularly disposed faces 222 to 234 and the respective gripping portions 44 and 50. Each of the openings 20 is also formed of two slits at right angles to each other. so positioned that one slitof one opening is-in a pane with a slit of the other opening. so that blades maybe inserted either in parallel or in tandem.`

In addition to the protection4 against dangerous voltages and the greater range of insulating materials made possible by the plates having above invention, there are further advantages in that the inclosure may be more cheaply manufactured and the various members of the device readily assembled. The stamping operations by which the various membersof the inclosure are formed may` moreover, be performedmore quickly and cheaply than the molding operations required or the usual type of inclosure.

As changes of construction could be made within the scope of my invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having described the. invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1s:

1. A device of the type described which comprises a metallic frame having a bottom wall and end walls, side plates of insulating material supported and held in said frame, and end plates of insulating material, said interlocking end portions fitting into each other to lock said plates against the walls of said frame and said device having means for holding said insulating plates against lateral displacement.

2. -A device of the type described which comprises, a metal frame having a bottom Wall and end walls, plates. of insulating material supported on the inner faces of said walls, said plates being notched, and side plates of insulating material extending between said end plates and projecting into said notches, and holding the end lates against the end walls of said metallic rame, said device. having means for holding said insulating plates against lateral displacement. y y

3. A device of the type described which comprises, a metal frame having bottom and end walls the end walls having inturned side flanges and the bottom wall having inturned side flanges at each end and provided with recesses in` its sides intermediate the flanges, plates of insulating material supported on said bottom and end walls the bottom plate also having recesses in4 its sides, side plates of insulating material extending between the end plates of insulating material, said side and end walls being notched and intertitted to hold the side plates in position and to hold the end plates'against the end walls of said frame, said side plates having downward extensions itting into the side recesses in the said bottom plate and wall. y

4. A device of the type described which comprises, an insulating inclosure having walls formed of interlocked plates of insulating material and a supporting frame therefor, the side walls of insulating material having upwardly projecting lugs, and a cover comprising a metal plate secure to said metal supporting frameI and plates ot insulating material mounted thereon one of said plates separating the interior of said insulated inclosure from said metal plate, said plate of insulating material having openings receiving said upwardly projecting lugs of said side walls, said insulating plates and metal plate having aligned openings, the openings of said metal plate being larger than those of said insulating plates, whereby said insulating plates overlap the openings of said metal plate.

5. A cover for vdevices of the type described which comprise, a metallic supporting plate, a plate of insulating material on either side of said metal supporting plate, said insulating and metal supporting plates having aligned co-axial openings, the openings of said metal plate being larger than those of said insulating plates and the edges of the openings in said metal plate being overlapped by the edges of the openings of said insulating plates.

6. A cover for devices of the type described which comprises, a metallic supporting plate, a plate of insulating material on each side of said metallic supporting plate, pins embedded in said insulating plates and extending through openings in said supporting metallic plate and being spaced from the edges ot said openings', aligned o o-axial openings in said metallic and insulating plat-es, the openings in the metallic plate being larger than those in said insulating plates.

7 A composite coverin late of metal and of insulating materia t e metal plate being interposed between the plates of insulation, said composite plate having openings therethrough for the insertion of contact elements, the openings in the metallic portion of the plate being of larger area thanbut similar in shape to the superposed openings' in the insulated portions of the plate, the edges of the openings in the metal plate being slightly spaced inwardly from the edges of the superposed openings in the plates of insulation.

8. A device of the type described which comprises, a metal frame ,having a bottom and end walls, plates of insulating material .supported on said bottom and end walls to form the bottom and ends of an insulated inclosure, the side edges of said bottom and end plates being notch/ed, and sidepplates of insulating material extending between said end plates and notched to t into and'lock said endvand bottom plates against the walls of said supporting frame and to prevent sidewise displacement.

9. A device of the type described which comprises, a metal :trame having a'bottom and end walls, plates of insulating material .supported on said bottoml and end walls to lated inclosure, the side` edges of said bottom and end plates being notched, side plates of insulating material extending between said end plates and notched to t into and lock said end and bottom plates against the walls of said supporting plate and flanges extending from the edges of the walls of said metal frame tol hold said side plates in position.

10. A device of the type described which comprises, a bottom plate of isnulating material notched at the middle of its side ed es, end plates of insulating material notche at .the lower portion of their side edges, and

side plates ofinsulating material notched to interfit in the notches in said bottom and end plates and a metallic frame for inclosing and supporting said plates of insulating material, said device having means for preventing the sidewise displacement of Said plates of insulating material on said metallicv 12. A device of the type described which comprises, a bottom plate of insulating mate'- rial notched at the middle of its side edge/sp end plates of insulating material notched at the lower portion of their` side edges, side plates of insulating material notched to interfit in the notches in said bottom and end plates, a lug on the upper edge of a side plate, an insulating cover plate provided with an opening into which said lugprojects, said cover plate having openings into the interior of said inclosure, anda metal shield having edges slightly spaced from the edges of said openings.

13. A contact of the type described which comprises a strip of metal having a flat mounting portion and portions disposed at an angle to each other and to said flat mounting portion, and portions bent to bring their ends intospaced relation to the outer surface of said angularly disposed portions to receive a blade between either of said ends and the outer surface. of the respective angularly disposed portion. s

14.- A contact of the type described which comprisesa strip of metal having a Hat portion adapted to be mounted on the surface of a wall and, at an end portion, having a ridge with sides dis osed at an angle to each other and to said at portion, and cylindrically curved portions ending in spaced relation to said angularly disposed sides of said ridge. i

15'. A contact of the type described which comprises a strip of metal having a flat middle portion adapted to be mounted iatl on a Wall and formed into a ridge at eac end, each ridge having side portions disposed at an angle to each other" and to said flat portion, and a cylindrically curved portion ending in s aced relation to said angularly disposed side portions.

' 17. A contact of the kind described which comprises a strip of metal having a flat middle portion and an'end portion formed into a ridge with angularly disposed side ortions, vsaid end portion being continued yeyondv said ridge and bent cylindrically to within a short distance of the outer lof said -angularly dis osed side portions, said middle portion being cut to form a leaf portion extending centrally from theinner' of said side portions and being bent c lindrically to within a'short distance of t e adjacent angularly disposed portion, said strip having its upper edge flared outwardly at 'said ridge portions to enable a blade to be readily inserted between said angularly disposed sides and said bent portions.

i 18. A device of the type described which comprises a wall of a contact receptacle, a contact mounted on the surface of said wall, said contact being formed of a single strip of metal bent toprovide receiving grooves disposed at an angle to each other, and binding means extending from said contact through said wall.

19. A blade receiving contact .which comprises a metal sheet extendingv in each side of a central ridge in angularlydisposed planes and extending further therefrom, and curved to bring the ends into spaced relation to the outer surface of said plane portions.

ARTHUR C. GAYNOR. 

